Chemical test kit



y 1933- c. s. BUTLER CHEMICAL TEST KIT Filed May 8, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheetl wE- u- May 23, 1933.

C. S. BUTLER CHEMICAL TEST KIT Filed May 8, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2fizz/e770? Patented May 23, 1933 COMFORT S. BUTLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOISCHEMICAL rns'r KIT 3 Application filed May 8, 1929. U Serial No.361,374.

This invention relates to portable kits for containing and transportingthe necessary equipment and materials for making various chemical tests.Certain equipment and sup- 5 plies are required for the making ofvarious chemical tests, as for example,uronological tests, which have tobe made by diabetics as a basis for regulation of their diets andtreatment. These include certain equipment in the way of appliances forconducting tests, and supplies or materials for use in making the tests,and it is a matter of considerable diificulty for the individual toproperly pack and transport the necessary equipment and supplies in suchfashion as to preserve them against loss and breakage, and at the sametime to have them convenient for daily or frequent use when traveling.

'A general object of the present invention is the provision of a kitparticularly adapted for the packing and proper retention of necessarytesting equipment and supplies in a fashion in which they areeffectively secured and protected against loss and breakage, and at thesame time are immediately and conveniently available for the making oftests.

Another object of the invention is to provision of such a kit which maybe embodied in the form of a small piece of hand baggage, so that itsspecial nature is not apparent.

Another object is the provision of such a kit which is adapted tofunction, not only as a container or means of packing and transportingthe materials and equipment, but also as a small portable laboratory inwhich the tests may be conducted with maximum convenience and withoutspecial preparation or additional facilities.

Another object is the provision of a special test tube rack assemblycontaining a considerable number and variety of appliances in a verycompact and immediately accessible arrangement in which the variousarticles are fully protected and by means of which they may be utilizedwith great convenience.

Another object is the provision of a special burner construction adaptedfor the utilization of partially oxygenated solid hydrocarbon fuelsparticularly adapted for con. venient and safe transportation and use inthe making of chemical tests.

Otherand further objects will be pointed out or indicated hereinafter,or will be apparentupon' a full understanding of the invention or itsemployment in practice.

For the purpose of aiding in the disclosure of the invention, 1 show inthe accompanying 6Q drawings forming part of this specification, certainembodiments of the kit and of its various features and components, butit is to be understood that these are presented for purpose ofillustration and are not to be re garded as exhaustive of the variousforms and arrangements in which the invention covered by the appendedclaims may be incorporated;

In said drawings,

Fig. 1 represents a top View of a kit embodying the invention, samebeing shown in a horizontal position with the cover or Work trayarranged in an open or extended position; and

Fig, 2 represents a sectional elevational view such as taken in partalong the line 22 and in part along the line 22"'.

The making of various chemical tests requires, in addition to suitablereceptacles, 8

such as test tubes, facilities for charging, heating and handling thesame as well as supplies and various materials for conducting the tests.In the treatment of diabetes, fOIexalflPle, it is a quite generalpractice that the patient shall make uronological tests at frequentintervals, as, for example, daily. For the purposes of convenience andsafety, particularly when traveling, and also for home use, it is quitedesirable that the equipment and supplies be kept in proper conditionfor frequent use andthat they be immediately available. Particularly forthe purposes of traveling, it is also important that the individual havesuitable supplies of insulin, for example, that such supplies bepreserved in proper condition against breakage and spoiling, and thatthey also be avail able for use conveniently.

The present invention provides a kit wherein all the necessaryequipment, and supplies requisite for a considerable period of time, maybe packed, transported and used with a maximum of security andconvenience. The nature of the invention may be most quickly ascertainedfrom a consideration of the illustrative embodiment shown in thedrawings. In this the reference numeral 10 designates a rectangular box,which may be in the form and proportions of a small attache case,havingia shallow cover portion 11 hinged on one side.

- The box is subdivided by partitions a, Z), 0,

(Z, 6 and into a number of compartments of appropriate dimensions forcontaining the various packages of material and the several articles ofequipment, the compartments 12 being adapted to accommodate bottles 14-,the compartment 15 to contain a package of fuel tablets 16, thecompartment 17 to contain ap'ocket kit carrying the appliances requisitefor the administration of insulin, the compartment 18 to contain apacket of gauze or cotton 19 and other articles, the compartment 20 tocontain the test tube rack 21 and a box of safety matches 22, and thecompartment 21 to contain packages of insulin 25. The connection of thecover to the box body is such'that when it is swung to an open positionit may rest horizontally, as illustrated in Fig. 2, to constitute a trayor work table over which the tests may be conducted, and preferablyislined inside with a sheet 26 of metal, such as aluminum. It also carriesa clip 27 suitable for retaining an article or a packet 28. Also mountedon the cover is a burner 29, which will be described in detail later.The dimensions of these parts are such that when the cover is in theclosed position, all the interior parts and contents of the box will becovered and enclosed and maintained against appreciable movement. Thebox may be kept closed by suitable latches 30 and may be carried, as apiece of small hand baggage, by means of the handle 31. V

The test tube rack assembly comprises a suitable block or casing 21provided with bores 21, .open at the top and preferably closed at thebottom, and of such proportions as to receive the test tubes 3a with aneasy sliding fit, such as will produce an air cushion effect when thetube is dropped into the bore. It is preferable that the tubes besupported by the contact of their flanges on the top of the rack, thusallowing for slight variations in the length of the tubes withoutcrowding them against the bottoms of the bores. The dimensions of theblock 21 are such that it will project laterally beyond the margins ofthe test tube flanges, thus to hold them out of contact with the wallsand partitions of the box. The opposite sides of the block are bevelledas at 21" adjacent the openings of the bores, so as to permit theflanges of the tubes to be readily grasped by the fingers, when it isdesired to withdraw the tubes. In one of the test tubes may be carried atest tube brush 35, in another a dropper 36, and in another a pair ofsmall forceps or tweezers 37. By virtue of this assembly, the variousarticles, particularly the frangible tubes, are safely housed and heldagainst rattling and contact with other contents, and yet areaccommodated in a very small space in the closed box. The test tubeholder 38, which is "of conventional design, may be carriedconvenientlyby clipping it onto the partition 0, as shown in Fig. 1.

The burner 29, which is especially'designed for the use of partiallyoxygenated-solid hydrocarbon fuels, such as hexamethylenetetramine,polymers of formaldehyde, solidified alcohols, and the like, intabletform, comprises a cup-like portion having an up standing burner platesupport 29 in the middle, terminating at an appreciable distance fromthe upper margin of the cup. On this plate support is mounted a burnerplate 29 which is a fiat plate of thin metal, preferably copper andwhich is adz'i-pted to be held in a substantially horizontal positionwhen the cover and burner are in the working position. This burner plateis supported within the cup and at a sl'lbstantial distance below theupper rim thereof, and preferably has minimum heat conducting contactwith its support, and is of such size as to afford a substantial spacebetween its rim and the side of the cup which encompasses it. Its sizeshould not be greatlyin excess of-the size of the fuel tablet F which'itis designed to use. 7 A tablet of fuel of the type indicated above beingplaced on the burner plate, it may readily be ignited from the flame ofa match. In the process of combustion it generates a gas, and this isaided by the heat held in the burner plate 29", which, because of itssheltered location and association with. the cup wall, is adapted tohold the heat and contribute to the progress of the combustion. The airaround the plate has free access to the tablet and rises with. theflame, the cool air being drawn down along the wall; of the cup andreceiving a certain amount of preheating before it reaches the plate.Because of these factors and the sheltering of the flame and the tablet,the fuel will burn with a steady and united flame which rises to a'substantial distance above the cup, as indicated approximately by the"outline L in Fig- 2. I i p When the box is opened, with the cover inthe working position, the test tube assembly may be swung up to avet'rical position, as illustrated in Fig. 2, wherein the test tubes andthe various articles inthem are in an easily accessible location, and itis maintainedin this position by the box and partition walls. A testtube may be withdrawn, the test tube holder 38 aflixed thereto and thetest tube suitably charged and replaced in the rack in a fashion such asshown in Fig; 2 where it is securely maintained against up setting orspilling and is at the same time convenient to the hand. A fuel tabletbeing extracted from the container 16, may be placed on the burner plateand ignited, and the charged test tube can be lifted by the holder 38and held in the flame for the proper heating.

Ihe dimensions of the block 21 are such that in the closed position ofthe box it is held against any substantial movement by the cover, andthe bottles 14 are held against any substantial movement by means of astop strip 39 carried on the cover as well as by the cooperatingpressure of the cover and test tube holder 38. The insulin packages 25,of standard size, are also held against substantial movement by thecover and by their engagement in the compartment 2%, while the fuelcontainer 16 is held against substantial movement by the burner, which,as will be observed in Fig. 2, occupies a position over it when thecover is closed.

It will be. observed that when in use the kit requires but very limitedtable space, and yet it provides all requisite space for the handlingand working support for the materials and appliances in the making ofthe test. The burner per se forms the subject matter of a separateapplication.

What I claim is:

1. A portable chemical test kit comprising a box having a cover hingedthereto and adapted to occupy a horizontal position when open, and aburner mounted on the inside of the cover and adapted to be moved to ahoused position within the box by the closing of the cover and toaworking position by the opening of the cover.

2. A kit as specified in claim 1 and wherein the box has a fuelcompartment over which the burner rests when the cover is in closedposition.

3. A portable chemical test kit comprising in combination, a box havinga removable cover and affording a compartment, a test tube rack adaptedto fit in said compartment and affording a protective support for a testtube, said test tube rack movable to occupy either a prone position oran upri ht position in the compartment, said compartment having wallsarranged to retain the test tube rack against overturning,

adapted in its closed position to maintain the test tube holder againstdisengagement from the partition.

5. The combination as specified in claim 4.- including a clip carried onthe cover in a position to maintain a packet in overlying relationshipto the test tube holder.

6. A portable chemical test kit comprising a box having a cover hingedthereto and adapted to swing to a closed position over the box and to anopen position wherein it affords a work tray, and a burner mounted onthe inner side of the cover and movable thereby to a position within thebox when the cover is closed and to a Working position over the worktray when the cover is open.

7. In a portable chemical test kit, the combination with a box affordinga compartment, of a test tube rack removably fitting in said compartmentand provided with openings for holding test tubes in parallel disposal.

8. A portable chemical test kit comprising a box having compartmentadapted to accomodate bottles in either a prone or upright position, acover hinged to the box and adapted to enclose and maintain the bottlesin a prone position in the box, and a handle on the box whereby it maybe carried with the bottle necks upward.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

COMFORT S. BUTLER.

